The following morning I woke to the sounds of wheels rolling back and forth outside in the corridor. I attempted to go back to sleep but soon I realized that my efforts were in vain and I finally sat up. Jumping down from the table, I stretched my limbs and wandered outside, finding Berto and Max racing around. Calling out I started towards them, only for Berto to call out a warning as Max sped towards me. I leapt to my left and, just as I was about to hit the wall, my arms and eyes glowed briefly as I jumped towards it and somehow back flipped off it. Landing perfectly I stood up and gave a bow as Berto and Max came to a halt.
"Whoa, how did you manage to do that?" Max asked as I grinned.
"I just reacted and my Turbo powers did the rest I guess." I replied as Berto joined us. "I didn't know I could do something like that."
"I think it's a combination of your powers and your own athletic skills that allowed you to do that." Berto pointed out, leaving me slightly baffled as to what he said even though I nodded like I did. "So how are you?" He asked me and I shrugged.
"I actually feel pretty good. Plus my headache's gone." I told him and he seemed relieved.
"That's great to hear since today's when you get to meet Sydney and Kirby." Max told me and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't you mean your girlfriend and Kirby?" I said, earning a laugh from Berto. Max, however, rolled his eyes.
"Very funny." He said as I grinned back at him. "Oh and you might want to change because your Base suit kind of sticks out." It wasn't until I looked down that I realized I hadn't changed into my regular clothes.
"I almost forgot about that. Have you seen Shock anywhere?" I asked them, hoping that he and Steel weren't using Forge's computer again. Fortunately they showed up before I had to go looking for them.
"Sorry we're late. I was using one of N-Tek's computers to work out the best camouflage for your reconnaissance mission." Shock told me. There was a brief silence within our group before Max and Berto burst out laughing. Scratching his chin with one arm, Shock looked at me and asked why they were laughing.
"They're both a couple of idiots, that's why. Just ignore them." I told him and asked what camouflage he had come up with. Smiling Shock linked up with me and in seconds I was wearing a light green t-shirt with a familiar symbol on the front, black pants and white sneakers with a green mark shaped exactly like Shock.
"So what do you think?" Shock asked, still attached to me and I grinned down at him.
"It's perfect." I said and he detached, smiling. "I just have to pick up my backpack and we can go when you're ready. I have to say it'll be nice to go one day without having to battle some super villain. At least I hope so anyway. I have been wrong before." When Berto and Max finally stopped laughing I asked where my bag was and Berto led me to his lab. Walking over to the table he picked up my bag and handed it to me. Thanking him, I held it out and Shock flew into it. Slipping it over my shoulders I turned to leave, only for Berto to say something to me.
"Be careful out there, okay?" He said and I was a little confused.
"Is something bothering you?" I asked him and he fiddled with his wrist computer. When I asked him again he muttered something I didn't quite catch. "Come again?"
When he finally looked up he sighed. "Be careful while you're with Max and his friends. After what happened before..." He stopped mid sentence and rubbed his eyes, making me feel a little guilty.
"I know you're worried that something's going to happen once I step outside N-Tek. If I promise I'll be careful will that work?" I told him and he stared at me for a few seconds before he nodded.
"I'll hold you to that promise. See you in a couple of hours." He said as he held out his fist. Grinning I bumped my fist against his and left him to his thoughts. Together with Max and Steel, Shock and I left N-Tek via the alleyway entrance. "That is still so cool." I said as I exited the car and watched it disappear back into the wall.
"It never gets old." Max agreed as we headed for the meeting point in Copper Canyon city. Along the way Shock asked me what Berto had said.
"Didn't you hear what he said before?" I asked and he told me no, that it was rude to eavesdrop. "I appreciate that. He asked me to take care of myself. If that's even possible." I told him as we walked along the sidewalk. "It's not really a promise I can make. Not if I want to keep protecting my friends and Copper Canyon." I added and that's when Max took me aside.
"Before I forget you know that you can't talk about Turbo powers and N-Tek around my friends or anyone else outside of N-Tek?" He said and I rolled my eyes.
"Don't worry. I already had Forge make me promise not to give away any secrets. I can keep a secret, just so you know." I replied, thinking back to an earlier conversation with Commander Forge.
As I was about to leave with Max and Steel, Forge asked to see me. Not sure what he wanted I told Max and Steel to meet me at the side entrance. Following Forge into his office he immediately asked that I refrain from giving away any of the secrets I knew. A bit annoyed at him now, I told him that I wouldn't say a word about N-Tek, Max Steel or my Turbo powers which included Shock as well. Before he could bring it up as too I added that if I had to change into J-Shock, I would make sure the coast was clear as well.
"Anything else, Commander?" I said, the sarcasm clear in my voice though Forge dismissed me without pointing out my obvious lack of respect. When I rejoined Max and Steel, I told them that Forge had warned me against putting myself in harm's way.
"So what are Sydney and Kirby like?" I asked Max as we continued along the sidewalk.
"They're the first two people I met when I first transferred to Copper Canyon High School." He told me and that's when Steel pointed out that he met Butch first.
"Who's Butch? And what kind of name is that anyway?" I asked Max
"Technically I did meet him first but that's only because he tripped me. Of course that is how I met Sydney so it wasn't all bad. Oh and by the way, his real name is Bartholomew." He told me and I giggled.
"Like that's any better? All I can say is he better not mess with me. I might be a woman but I don't hit like one." I said, making Max laugh. "Where are we meeting them anyway?" I asked just as we rounded the corner and I found myself standing in front of a huge school. "Let me guess, this is Copper Canyon High School."
"Yep. We don't have class today so I thought it would be the best place to meet them." He told me as he waved to a girl and guy standing a few meters away. When they saw Max they waved back and walked over to us. Close up I noticed that Sydney had long blond hair that she had tied in a ponytail and brown eyes like my own. Kirby, however, had dark brown hair hidden under a dark green beanie. With a grin Kirby was the first to introduce himself to me, soon followed by Sydney.
"I'm Jessie." I told them with a smile and they both grinned back at me.
"So how do you know Max?" Sydney asked and thankfully I knew exactly what to say.
"I moved to Copper Canyon about a week ago and Max lives on the same floor of the Vista View Apartments that I do. He and his mom came over one day to say hi and that's how we met." I explained.
"Do you go to Copper Canyon High?" Kirby asked me and that threw me. Fortunately Max stepped in to help.
"Jessie's starting next week." He told them and while I was grateful, it wasn't the truth.
"That's cool. Maybe we'll be in the same classes together." Sydney said and I nodded, not sure what to say.
"I hate to point this out and all, but you don't go to school here." Shock said.
"Tell that to Max, he's the one who told them that." I replied and Kirby raised an eyebrow at me.
"Huh did you say something, Jessie?" He asked me.
Silently panicking I said the first thing that popped into my head "Oh I was just asking where we're going." The moment I said that, Max started talking about going to the carnival on the pier. When we started walking again Shock asked me what I was going to do about the school thing.
"I don't know. Why did Max have to tell Sydney and Kirby that I'm enrolled at their school? Now what am I going to do?" I said as I walked behind my friends, careful to stay just out of earshot. By the time we reached the pier Shock and I came up with the only possible solution; ask Commander Forge for help.
"Here we are." Max announced and I looked up, taking in the sights and sounds of the carnival. From the huge crowds to the sounds of people having fun and, I have to say, the smells of corn dogs and popcorn.
"So what do you think?" Max asked me as I stood there, wondering where to go first.
"It's pretty cool. Can I ask you one thing though?" I said as I walked over. "Why did you have to say that I'm going to Copper Canyon High School?" I asked him and when he shrugged, I glared at him. "It's a little too late to do that. What are they going to say when I don't show up next week?" I pointed out. Not giving him time to answer I followed Sydney and Kirby, leaving Max to figure out a solution on his own.
As we walked around together, Sydney asked me what I did in my spare time. Obviously I couldn't say 'fight super villains' so I instead told them about my hobbies. The ones I could remember anyway.
" I absolutely love video games." I said and out the corner of my eye I saw Kirby grin.
"Hey me too! That's so cool. Wanna check out the arcade?" He asked me and I grinned back at him.
"Of course. Try and stop me." I replied and he took off running, leaving me to race after him.
"Looks like Jessie has made a new friend." Steel said once he, Max and Sydney reached the arcade that had a tent strung over it. Over all the noise of the arcade games no one would be able to hear them talk.
"Yeah it's great that she can spend some time outside without worrying about super villains or N-Tek." Max agreed as he watched Jessie and Kirby competing against each other at Air Hockey while Sydney watched on. "I just hope nothing happens in the meantime. It's like every time Jessie steps outside N-Tek, she gets attacked by some lunatic."
"You're starting to sound like Berto, you know that? She can take care of herself." Steel replied and Max laughed. "By the way, did you come up with an answer to Jessie's problem?" When Max shook his head, Steel rolled his eyes from inside the backpack. "Then I guess we'll have to ask Forge for help." As they watched their friends, thinking that it had been a great idea for them to spend some time together, Max's phone began to ringing. Excusing himself for a moment he left the tent and, finding somewhere private, he answered it.
"Hey it's me. Is everything cool on your end?" Berto asked and Max tried not to laugh.
"In case you're wondering, we haven't been attacked and Jessie's fine." Max told him and on the other end, working in his lab, Berto went red in the face.
"Okay you got me. How is she by the way?" He asked and Max smiled to himself.
"I last time I saw her, only a few minutes ago , she was beating Kirby at Air Hockey. So what's happening on your end?" Max asked him and on his end, Berto grinned as he finished typing something on his keyboard.
"Nothing at the moment. Actually it's been pretty quiet so I've caught up on some work. Oh and thanks again for introducing Jessie to Sydney and Kirby. It's fun hanging out here and all but it's nice for her to hang out without having to fight Dredd or Toxzon." Berto said and that's when he heard Max laughing on the other end. "Huh did I say something funny?" He asked and Steel filled him in.
"You know, Max said the same thing a few minutes ago. I guess that's why Max's laughing." Steel said and Berto smiled.
"You two know me too well. I guess I better go now. See you later." He said and hung up. As Max put his phone away, Steel spoke.
"He really worries too much." He pointed out as Max headed back to the tent. By the time he got back the game was over.
"So how was the game?" Max asked and I grinned at him. "I'm guessing you won?"
"Not by much really. Anyway we hadn't really finished when the game started sparking. If the game's broken, they should warn people." I said and was a little surprised when Max took me aside. Watching us, Sydney and Kirby both looked on confused as Max led me outside the tent. Once out of earshot I asked what his problem was.
"You forgot about your 'Turbo touch', didn't you?" He asked and when I raised an eyebrow at him, he rolled his eyes at me. "It means that you have to be careful around technology otherwise you can short it out or blow things up." He explained and I frowned.
"A little warning would have been nice. No one got hurt so I'm thankful. Should we go somewhere else where I won't blow anything else up?" I said as I saw Sydney and Kirby exit the tent and head towards us. Before Max or any of his friends could suggest somewhere, I heard my phone begin to ring. "Sorry I'll be right back." I said, excusing myself and walking a short distance away. The second I answered it I knew who it was.
"Commander Forge. What's going on?" I asked as I heard Forge's voice on the other end.
"For the record I wasn't checking up on you. I'm calling to update you on Toxzon's whereabouts." He told me and I felt my pulse speed up. Not sure how to respond to this piece of news, I took a deep breath and asked where he was hiding. "Actually that's now unknown even to us. For all we know he could be anywhere in Copper Canyon."
"Then why call it an update?" I asked, trying to keep calm. "Sorry I just want him caught before he puts anyone else in danger." I said as I thought about my friends.
"I know you do and so do we. I promise we'll find him and when we do…" Forge said.
"I get first dibs on him?' I said and I heard him laugh on the other end. Once again warning me to be careful, he hung up and as I put my phone away I couldn't help thinking he was acting like he was my dad.